title: Measles transmission by 'fly-in fly-out' workers in Australia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the outbreak investigation and control measures for a cluster of measles cases involving 'fly-in fly-out' (FIFO) workers on an off-shore industrial vessel.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following Australian guidelines, measles cases were interviewed and at-risk contacts on the Australian mainland received measles vaccine, immunoglobulin or health advice. For the industrial vessel: (i) exposed FIFO workers who had already left the vessel received health advice through their employer; (ii) workers remaining on the vessel were offered measles vaccine; and (iii) FIFO workers joining the vessel for 21 days following the prodrome onset of the last case of measles on the vessel were offered measles vaccine. Measles virus isolates were sent for genotype determination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four measles cases from two Australian jurisdictions were epidemiologically linked to the retrospectively identified index case, a New Zealand FIFO worker. No further cases were detected following the institution of outbreak control measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FIFO workers congregating on large industrial projects are a discrete risk group with the potential to spread infectious diseases over large distances, both domestically and internationally.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FIFO workers' immunisation history should be reviewed prior to deployment. Catch-up vaccination, where appropriate, would minimise transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and help maintain a healthy, productive workforce.
authors.affiliation: Northern Territory Centre for Disease Control, Department of Health, NT; Northern Territory Clinical School, Flinders University Northern Territory Centre for Disease Control, Department of Health, Northern Territory Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Department of Health, Western Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Markey
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Skov
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dowse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016358:Contact Tracing; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D016272:Occupational Health; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D014195:Travel
chemical_list: D008458:Measles Vaccine
keywords: measles; occupational health; outbreak investigation